Looks like P. hongkongensis to me; the skin is relatively smooth for Paramesotriton, the red line at the bottom of the tail/cloaca looksmore like hongkongensis than chinensis, the cranial ridges are prominent and there are no yellow spots at the base of the limbs.
Do bear in mind that hongkongensis was only recently(ish) separated from chinensis (1962, i think), and is considered a subspecies, still, by some authorites. Not sure what the molecular evidence is on this - I have apaper, but need to get round to reading it.
Re the importation, these newts are widely exported despite protection inside their range (like a whole host of other Chinese amphibs, e.g. various Tylototriton). When it comes to the international trade in amphibians, local protection means very little, particularly from SE Asia, unfortunately.....
I think, also, that this species is protected on Hongkong itself, bu the populations on mainland China are not - I'm not sure about this, though, maybe someone with more specific knowledge could comment.
Chris
